Monks and Poems

My Readings and comments

Muso Soseki (1275 - 1351)

Muso Soseki at age nine initially trained in the Shingon sect: http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/easia/shingon.html until age 18. Studied Zen for 3 years with I-shan a Chinese master. Was admitted to the studies because of his competency in composing Chinese poems. After many years of traveling, he was appointed to head Nanzen-ji monastery in Kyoto by the then reigning emperor, Go-Daigo. After a decade of war, he found favor with the Ashikaga shoguns and held the title National Teacher.

http://www.jref.com/culture/ashikaga_shogunate.shtml

Nanzen-ji Temple - Kyoto

Southern Mountain Temple

Old Creek

Since before anyone remembers
It has been clear
Shining like silver
Though the moonlight penetrates it
And the wind ruffles it
No trace of either of remains.
Today I would not dare
To expound the secret
Of the stream bed
But I can tell you
That the blue dragon
Is coiled there.

Very high this mountain
And few find their way up here
Only puffs of cloud
Drift up and past
As I meditate
My original self
Empties all of heaven and earth
Not at all like the lantern
In broad day.

Reply to Reizan Osho

I don’t go out
To wander around
I stay home here in Miura
While time flows
On through
The unbounded world.
In the awakened eye
Mountains and rivers
Completely disappear.
The eye of delusion
Looks out upon
Deep fog and clouds.
Alone on my zazen mat
I forget the days
As they pass
The wisteria has grown
Thick over the eaves
Of my hut.
The subtle way
Of Bodhidharma
I never give it a thought.
Does anyone know
The truth of zen
Or what to ask about it?

The Milky Way pours waterfalls over this human world
the cold rushing tumbling sounds echo through the blue sky
Veneration to the Great Compassionate Avilokiteshvara
How lucky to have no trouble hearing

Wandering

My treasure is the cloud on the peak

The moon over the valley

Traveling east or west

Light and free on the one road

I don’t know whether I’m on the way

Or at home.

- Muso Soseki (1275-1351)

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